Dates Set for Sail Port Stephens 2009
Keep the sailing diary free in late April 2009 & make a family holiday of it at Sail Port Stephens. 
'L'attitude crew enjoys both Commodores Cup and Port Stephens Trophy - Sail Port Stephens 2008'
Kirk Maclean
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It ticks all the boxes !
* Great sailing inshore & offshore - all very easy distances from marina
* Quality marina facilities at a good price
* Fun, affordable social mischief
* Great accommodation - from budget cabins to 5 Star Resorts
* Lots of quality activities for partners & kids
Sound like a regatta you'd like to sail in? Its all just a day's sail and/or a two hour drive from Sydney....
Sail Port Stephens in April 2008 was a quiet little success, and the 175 odd yachties and their families and partners who participated in the 2008 event have been talking about it ever since.
So lock it in your calendars and make sure you're there in 2009!!
Here is what is on offer....and there's something for boats of all sizes and classes.
From Sydney and further south, you can sail up at your own leisure, or make a race of it with the following feeder races:
1.Race from Pittwater to Newcastle on Saturday the 18th of April
- overnight fun in Newcastle at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (exact details closer to the date).
2.Race from Newcastle to Port Stephens on Sunday 19th of April
- drinks on arrival, welcome function (exact details closer to the date) 
Commodores Cup
On Monday 20th April, at a civilised time of around 11am - the Commodores Cup gets underway - a 3 day - 3 race series, aimed at those who want to have a good sail, and good fun with mates or family on a cruising style course - you can put kites up or you can leave them packed in their bags - the choice is yours - and handicaps will be calculated under PHS.
You're on the water around 11am each day (some start lines are 5 minutes from the marina!!) and back by 4'ish, leaving you plenty of time and energy to enjoy the social fun and spend time with friends and family and fellow competitors in the evening.
The Commodores Cup concludes on Wednesday 22nd April - with the presentation that evening.
Then there's a day off on Thursday 23rd April - you can catch up on work, or you can take in some of the local tourist activities, do lunch at any number of award winning restaurants, sleep...or even go on a bus tour to the Hunter Valley.
NSW IRC Championship
From Friday 24th April to Sunday 26th April, the action hots up on the water again, with the NSW IRC Championship getting underway, along with the Port Stephens Trophy for the PHS boats.
Last year's PHS fleet ranged from an Elliot 7 to an Archambault 40 - with every boat and crew delighted with the courses, the race management...and of course the sailing...!
The IRC fleet were unanimous in their praise of the windward leeward inshore courses, as well as an offshore course to test the skills of their crews, some of whom had flown in from Victoria for the regatta.
All racing is under the master control of well known and respected Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson. 
On the social front, there are gatherings involving a few quiet drinks and dinner/bbq/food of some sort in different spots around the Bay each night, and bus transport is provided to and from the venues, giving you the chance to relax and enjoy the night.
And there's little chance of partners, wives, kids and families getting bored.
For the ladies, there is a fine selection of day spas around Port Stephens - most of whom will be putting together special deals for participants of Sail Port Stephens ( just another thing that might make it that little bit easier to get that leave pass to get to the regatta and to go sailing...)
For kids of all ages, there's a big range of activities like go-karting, horse riding, the movies, whale and dolphin watching, as well as great beaches, bike hire and Kids Clubs at some of the resort properties.
Whether you can get away for the whole week, or just choose to do the early week or the Anzac Day Weekend sailing, there really is something for everyone at Sail Port Stephens.
If you've got any questions - email sailportstephens09@gmail.com
by Jody Ellem
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thirroul, NSW
